Fort Adams State Park

Welcome to Fort Adams State Park, situated on the spectacular harbor mouth of Newport, Rhode Island. As we stand here with the Atlantic breeze coming off the waters of Narragansett Bay, you are looking at the remnants of one of…

As we approach the fort from the eastern landward side, we encounter the very first line of defense: an imposing structure known as the Redoubt. Put yourself in the boots of an attacking nineteenth-century soldier. …

We now arrive at the East Gate, the primary land entrance to the main fortification. Standing before this towering entrance, you are met by a set of massive, sixty-inch thick oak doors, formidable enough to stop any advancing…

Emerging from the shadows of the East Gate, you step out into the blinding daylight of the central Parade Ground. Take a moment to simply turn in a circle and absorb the sheer, staggering scale of this open space. …

Walking toward the southeast corner of the Parade Ground, we approach an elegant row of brick and masonry structures. These are the Officer's Quarters, the nerve center and residential hub for the fort's command staff. …

Continuing along the south wall, we find the Enlisted Men's Quarters and the massive arched casemates. For decades, this section was closed to the public, hidden behind overgrown brush and crumbling masonry. …

We now ascend to the top of the fort to stand upon its most critical defensive structure: the West Wall. As you look out over the sparkling waters of the East Passage, the true strategic genius of Fort Adams reveals itself. …

We now leave the sunlit battlements and descend into the most mysterious and psychologically taxing area of Fort Adams: the subterranean tunnel system. As we walk down into the earth, notice how the temperature drops, the air…

As we emerge from the tunnels and enter the central tier of the northern casemates, the story of Fort Adams takes an unexpected and somewhat humorous turn. You are standing behind what is known as a Tenaille, a specific V-shaped…

As our tour comes to an end, we look back across the vast parade ground toward the harbor, reflecting on the improbable survival of this magnificent structure. It is hard to believe today, but Fort Adams was very nearly erased…